Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

About the Region

The most famous American wine region, and one of the most highly regarded in the world. The first grapes were planted here, northeast of San Francisco (with a climate influenced by an arm of San Francisco Bay), in the mid-19th century; one of the earliest commercial wineries, Charles Krug, still in operation, was founded in 1861. Wineries proliferated in the late 19th century and, after a downturn during Prohibition, the Napa wine scene continued to expand. The so-called "Paris tasting" (later renamed "The Judgment of Paris") in 1976 — in which a panel of French wine experts rated cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay from the Napa Valley higher than their famous and far more expensive French counterparts — brought international renown (and higher prices) to the valley's wines. While these remain the two most widely grown grapes in Napa (the cabernet is particularly highly regarded), scores of other varieties are planted and do well here. There are now at least 450 wineries in the Napa Valley (700 or so in Napa County as a whole), from modest warehouse facilities to multi-million-dollar showplaces mimicking European castles, and the area has become a major tourist attraction.

Also in the Region

Cabernet Sauvignon

One of the so-called noble red-wine varieties, cabernet sauvignon is believed to have ancient ancestors, but seems to have appeared in its present form only in the 17th century. DNA evidence suggests that — appropriately to its name — it is a direct descendent of cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc. It can grow in many climates and soil types. It is the major red wine variety in Bordeaux and is found in many other parts of France. It has also been largely responsible for the worldwide reputation of California wine, especially through examples made in the Napa and Sonoma areas. Cabernet sauvignon is also an important cultivar in Spain, Italy, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean basin, as well as in Australia, South Africa, and Argentina and Chile. Wines made from the grape have a natural affinity for oak, so are often aged in oak barrels; they also have a high tannin content, which helps them to age well.